Combination interlock and weather seal strip arrangement for relatively slidable closure members



March 18, 1969 P. G. BORDNER 3,432,966

COMBINATION INTEHLOCK AND WEATHER SEAL STRIP ARRANGEMENT FOR RELATIVELY SLIDABLE CLOSURE MEMBERS Filed April 28, 1967 INVENTOR. PAUL G. BORDNER ATTORNEYS BY MAleNEY, MILLER 8 RAMBO nited mtes ate 3,432,966 COMBINATION INTERLOCK AND WEATHER SEAL STRIP ARRANGEMENT FOR RELATIVELY SLIDABLE CLOSURE MEMBERS Paul G. Bordner, Columbus, Ohio, assiguor to Crane Plastics, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 28, 1967, Ser. No. 634,511 US. Cl. 49-368 Int. Cl. E06b 3/30, 3/64, 3/88 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE 2 Claims Background of the invention This invention relates generally to weather stripping, and more particularly to a combined weather seal and interlock system for relatively slidable closure members.

Summary of the invention The present invention comprises a combination interlock and weather seal strip arrangement for sealing and tightening the joint between the relatively adjacent, overlapping end frame members or stiles of a pair of relatively slidable doors or windows when they are moved into relatively closed positions. The arrangement includes identically shaped strips applied in opposing relation to each of the relatively overlapping door frame members. Each strip is formed as an integral, one-piece extrusion of plastic material having sections of different hardness. These strips comprise substantially rigid, longitudinally extending base legs or mounting webs secured in face to face contact with the frame members of the doors; rigid, longitudinally coextensive, curved cam portions which are spaced laterally outwardly from the base legs and which terminate in relatively engageable cam fingers, and integral longitudinally coextensive, relatively soft and flexible sealing tubes connected with the base legs and enga-geable with the cam portions of the opposing strips upon closure of the doors to effect a weather seal therebetween.

General description of drawing The invention is illustrated in its preferred form in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a horizontal sectional view through cooperating doors in closed position having the combination interlock and weather seal strip arrangement of this invention applied thereto.

FIGURE 2 is a similar view but showing the doors moved toward open position.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a section of one of the strips.

Detailed description.

With reference to the drawing, for purpose of illustration only, the present invention is shown applied to two door members 5 and 6 which are slidable relatively in parallel planes in the direction of the arrows as shown in FIGURE 2. When in closed position, as shown in FIG- URE 1, the vertical or upright stiles or end frame members 5a and 6a, at the outer edges of the respective door members, overlap with their surfaces in parallel relationship to provide a space 7 therebetween in which the interill lock and weather seal strip arrangement of this invention is located. This arrangement comprises a pair of strips 10 which are substantially vertically or longitudinally coextensive with the frame members 5a and 6a and which engage and interlock with each other when the door members are moved into closed position so as to provide a rattle-free and weathertight sealed joint. The door uprights 5a and 6a are indicated as being of wood but they may be of other material.

Each strip 10 is of elongated form and includes a flat base or mounting web member 11 which is longitudinally continuous and is of substantial width, having a longitudinally extending edge 11a. On the one face of this web 11 is an integral barb-like attaching rib 12 which is longitudinally coextensive with the web 11 and projects laterally outwardly normal thereto. Spaced laterally outwardly from the opposite face of the web 11 and joined integrally thereto by the parallel longitudinally extending inner and outer parallel ribs 13 and 14, is the cam portion 15, this portion and the ribs being continuous and longitudinally coextensive with the web 11. The cam portion 15 includes a finger portion 16 of wedge-shaped cross section which projects beyond the rib 13 in acutely angular relation to the web 11 and terminates in a free thinner edge. The cam portion also includes a concavely curved, cam surface 17 merging with the outer surface of the finger 16 and extending from the inner rib 13 outwardly to the rib 14. It will be noted that the free edge 16a of the cam finger 16 terminates short of or inwardly of the corresponding longitudinal edge of the web 11 and that each finger angles laterally outwardly away from the plane of the web. Also, it will be noted that the curved cam surface 17 extends laterally outwardly from the plane of the web 11 and away from the edge 11a of the web. Formed integral at this edge of the web 11 and on the adjacent face of the web is a laterally projecting, hollow or tubular formation 18, which is continuous and longitudinally coextensive with the web 11 and is of a resiliently yieldable, relatively softer composition than the remaining sections of the strip.

The strip 10 is extruded as an integral one-piece unit from suitable plastic material. All portions are made of a relatively rigid or semi-rigid plastic except the tubular section 18 which is formed of a softer and more flexible plastic, all sections being extruded simultaneously. The relatively rigid and softer sections may be of different compatible plastic compositions or may be of the same plastic compositions plasticized to different degrees and, according to the present invention, the latter is preferred. For example, a polyvinyl chloride compound may be used as the plastic material. The flexible tubular section 18 will preferably be of a softer composition having a hardness preferably ranging from 40A to A Shore durometer. The two plastic materials which form the different sections of the strip are joined together at the orifice of the extrusion machine in a manner well known in the plastic extrusion art.

In mounting a strip 10 on each of the door members 5 and 6, a section of suitable length is cut from the extrusion so that it will extend substantially the complete height of the door member. The door member in the face of the upright frame member is provided with a vertically extending kerf or slot, indicated at 5b and 5c respectively, which opens outwardly at that face and is designed to receive the barbed rib 12 on the strip, the rib being forced inwardly into the slot and being of such a cross sectional size and shape relative to the slot that it will be retained firmly therein. The adjacent flat surface of the web 11 of the strip will contact the surface of the frame member. The strip is shown so disposed on the door that the free edge 11a of the web 11 and the free edge of the cam finger 16 of each strip will extend inwardly from the outer edge of that door. The result of this arrangement is that when the door members and 6 are moved apart as in FIGURE 2, the strips 10 carried by the respective doors quickly move out of contact, the cam portion of one door strip quickly moving out of contact with the cam portion 15 and the tubular formation 18 of the other door. When the door members are moved into closed position, as indicated in FIGURE 1, the wedge-shaped finger 16 on the one strip will move within and wedge against the wedge-shaped finger 16 of the other strip with a gradually increasing wedging contact, it being noted that the one strip provides a flared socket or throat 4b or 4c, for receiving the opposed cam finger 16 of the other strip which is directed toward and will advance into that converging socket when the door members are moved relatively toward closed position. As the cam fingers 16 move into final firm face-to-face engagement, the curved cam surface' 17 on each strip engages and slightly compresses the resilient tubular formation 18 on the other strip. The interlocking engagement of the fingers 16 of the two strips prevents relative lateral movement of the two door members, that is, movement in a direction normal to the parallel planes of the door members, and this will prevent rattling of the doors under wind pressure. The engagement of the cam finger 16 of the one strip with the resiliently compressible tube 18 of the other strip will provide an eifective weathertight seal and it will be noted that a double seal is provided, one at the outer edge of each door member.

It will be apparent from the above that the strip of this invention, when used on relatively slidable closure members as indicated, provides an effective weathertight interlocking joint. Also, the strip can be formed and installed economically.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed 1. In combination with a pair of relatively slidable closure members having end frames disposed in relatively adjacent, parallel relationship when said closure members occupy relatively closed positions; a pair of identically formed strips of extruded plastic composition secured, respectively, in relatively opposing relationship on the end frames of said closure members and longitudinally coextensive therewith, each of said strips being of integral, one-piece construction and comprising a rigid fiat base web secured in face to face contact with the end frame of one of said closure members, a rigid curved cam portion disposed in outward laterally Spaced relation to the base web and terminating in a cam finger disposed on acutely angular relation to said base web and defining therewith an open ended, inwardly tapering socket to receive the cam finger of the opposing strip when said closure members are moved to their relatively closed positions, and a resiliently compressible, tubular sealing section carried by and coextensive with said base web and arranged to sealingly engage the curved cam portion of the opposing strip when said closure members occupy relatively closed positions.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein each of said strips is formed with a longitudinally coextensive, barbed attaching rib projecting perpendicularly from the base web and into a kerf formed in the end frame of one of said closure members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,811,406 10/1957 Moore et a1 49483 X 3,378,958 4/ 1968 Parks et a1. 49-498 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,342,662 9/ 1963 France. 1,137,851 6/1956 Germany.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

J. KARL BELL, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

